A brave journalist working for ABP News had to face intimidation from India’s junior home minister, Ajay Mishra Teni, because the intrepid reporter chose to ask him about son’s alleged involvement in killing four farmers in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri. The video of Teni attacking ABP journalist for simply mustering courage to ask difficult questions has gone viral.
In the video, the reporter could be seen asking, “Mantriji, what do you have to say about the fresh charges filed against your son?”
Even before the reporter could complete his sentence, one of the minister’s associates shouted him down by asking him to sticking to the ‘topic’.
An angry minister told the reporter, “Don’t ask such stupid questions.” He then ordered the reporter to stop filming him as he shouted, “Dimagh kharab hai kya tera (Have you lost your mind?)”
“Turn your phone off,” he ordered.
One of Teni’s aides asked, “Don’t you have any shame?”
ABP is one of the TV channels often ridiculed as lapdog for its constant support for the BJP and its divisive agenda. The video evoked strong reactions with netizens extending their support to the brave reporter.
A video, purportedly of MoS Home Ajay Mishra lashing out at journalist has surfaced. pic.twitter.com/hSqyK1RkqN
— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) December 15, 2021
ABP reporter on MoS Home Ajay Mishra Teni abusing journalists over question of Teni's son being now accused of mowing down farmers in a premeditated attack. pic.twitter.com/xMFVKVa6VF
— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) December 15, 2021
The reporter later said that his colleague’s mobile phone was seized by the minister adding thatn the minister also abused media personnel.
Teni’s son is accused of killing four protesting farmers in UP’s Lakhimpur Kheri with his SUV. He was later arrested by the UP Police. The SIT responsible for investigating the horrific incident recently revealed that the murder of those farmers was premeditated.
Opposition parties have been demanding Teni’s resignation from Narendra Modi’s cabinet but the Indian prime minister has ingored the calls for the sacking of one of his lieutenants.
Uttar Pradesh goes to polls next year and sacking Teni, an upper caste Hindu, may not go down well with the core voters of the BJP.